May 2017 (14)

Welcome to the MAY edition of the Liverpool & Districts CAMRA Branch Newsletter

Any opinions expressed in this newsletter is that of the writers and not necessarily the same as CAMRA or the branch.

Andre Fu

Vice Chair

Finally...a big thank-you to this month's contributors who have supplied me with pub news...

Sue Daniels

Steve Berks

Ian Simpson

Ben Canavan

Tony Morgan

Dave Evans

Richard Lee

If you have ANY news, relating to pubs or real ale, you think should feature in this monthly newsletter, please email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. tweet it and include @LiverpoolCAMRA

The Fall Welli s to host a one-day beer festival on 16thMay, starting at 5pm and featuring 8 breweries. Yours truly has been asked to recommend some beers to get in (which I am thinking about as I type this newsletter) and so far I have suggested that they have at least one mild on offer to mark May is Mild Month – Black Cat Reserve anyone ?

Craft Taproom has had two handpulls installed. This newly opened craft ale focused pub now offers real ales as well as eight craft ales and a vast range of bottled beers. Cask ales are sourced from ‘Funky Beers’, which specialise in providing quirky and unusual real ales, recently Tiny Rebel’s Cwtch was available. There is a useful working WiFi service for drinkers with the desire to work.

In mid April, popular manager Bryn at The Willow Bank Tavern moved on; he has gone to the Offa’s Dyke in Broughton, Chester.

Currently, David is Acting Manager, but Bryn’s replacement should be announced by May 1st. The pub continues to sell seven beers in good condition at weekends and slightly fewer during the early end of the week, it offers 10% CAMRA discount on Tuesdays. Westons Old Rosie real cider is also available.

Subject to local Parish Council approval, a community cafe in Maghull is due to become our branch’s latest micropub later on this month. Mocha Coffee & Sandwich Bar is due to be re-named as Maghull Cask Cafe and will operate as such 4pm-9pm (Thurs-Sat) and 12pm-9pm (Sun). They plan to offer 4 cask ales including a permanent stout/porter. Bottled craft beers will also be available.

We have been asked to remind members that on Wednesday evenings only, they are allowed to use the bar at The Northern Club in Crosby on production of a valid card. This private sports club usually has 3 ales on offer. A beer from local brewery, Rock the Boat tends to be available along with Hawkshead Bitter. The beer from the remaining handpull changes but, usually, it’s a pale or golden ale. The bar opens 5pm-11pm.

As reported in last month’s edition, the Old Bank on South Road, Waterloo was due to re-open after a period of closure. Well...they are now up and running. Unfortunately, the number of handpulls has been reduced to three and real cider is no longer available. There is less emphasis on showing live sport, as there is currently only one TV screen.

On a more positive note, on a recent visit, all the beers on sale were local. There was one from Stamps Brewery and two others from the Ship & Mitre. This is the first time I have seen their beers on sale in another pub, which is to be commended. I look forward to discussing with the new licensee, Robbie, about his future plans for the place.

We have been informed that Stamps Brewery are in the process of installing a new 15bbl fermenter at their current site. They are also in the early stages of negotiating a move of premises to somewhere in the Bootle area.

It truly is the ‘end of an era’ as we receive confirmation that the brewing kit has been sold and removed from the basement of the Baltic Fleet meaning Liverpool has finally lost it’s last remaining “brewpub” and Wapping beer will no longer be brewed. I have been told by General Manager, Richard Lee that the kit has been sold to city based microbrewery, Ad Hop, and brewer, Tom, has joined their team. Simon Holt, the owner, confirmed the following via email…

“After careful consideration I have decided to stop brewing in the cellar and sell the brewery on to Anders at Ad Hop. The Baltic Fleet is going from strength to strength, particularly our Locale sales. We currently offer up to 12 local casks, keg & bottle. We're passing on a great kit & supporting the growth of an already established Liverpool brewer. So for one last time let's raise our glasses & shout, "mine'saWAPPING!"

On 27th June. we will be holding our Annual Awards at KIND, when we will be presenting, amongst others, our ‘Barperson of the Year’ award. Once again, we are inviting branch members to nominate the person they believe deserves this prestigious award. So, if you feel that a member of the bar staff in your local provides first class customer service and is a great ambassador for real ale, you can nominate them by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or contacting us via our Facebook page or Twitter feed. Should your nominee be chosen to receive the award, you will be invited to the awards night and will be given the opportunity to present them with the award in person. Nominations to be received by 31stMay

We aim to encourage everyone to try at least one mild during May. Milds are black to dark brown to pale amber in colour and come in a variety of styles from warming roasty ales to light refreshing lunchtime thirst quenchers. Malty and possibly sweet tones dominate the flavour profile but there may be a light hop flavour or aroma. Slight diacetyl (toffee/butterscotch) flavours are not inappropriate. Alcohol levels are typically low. One of the most popular regional mild is Moorhouse Black Cat. For those who prefer something light coloured, Timothy Talyor Golden Best is a good example. However. you don’t need to look far to find some excellent locally brewed milds. They include Connoisseur Bloody Mild, George Wright Mild, Coach House Gunpowder Mild and Southport Dark Night.

During May, keep an eye out for pubs selling mild. As well as some pubs, including the Caledonia stocking Mild for the pub walk on 11th May, the Baltic, CASK and the Augustus John will also have mild on sale.

18th - Day Out in Preston. Meet at Ormskirk Rail Station for 11:52 train or 10:55 at Court Leet (Wetherspoon) for breakfast.

Beer Festivals this Month

A little outside our branch area...but not too far… Tap & Bottlesin Southportare hosting Beer Street again between 19th-20th May. Around 75 in total split between cask and keg. Expect a range of different styles and strengths and lots of one-offs / rarities and collaborations. The festival will be based out of the pub, it will be extend out into Cambridge Arcade for the duration of the weekend, which is a thoroughfare situated between Lord Street and Chapel Street.This year the entry fee is £2.50, and that covers you if you want to come on all three days on the festival. Glasses will be provided on entry, and they are yours to keep.

Beers will all be individually priced and available to purchase with tokens, which will also be available on entry. Unlike last year, token sheets will not be fixed at £10 and will be available for any amount.

Further afield, we have been asked to make members aware of the Forever Bury Beer Festivalwill be held at Bury FC Social Clubbetween 11th- 13thMay; 11am-11pm daily.

There will be 55 real ales & 18 ciders from around the country and are all priced at £2.50 a pint. There will also be a large continental bottle bar, live evening entertainment & hot food. The festival is supporting The Joshua Wilson Brain Tumour Charity and junior football at the club.

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